Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur, Lepilemur sahamalazensis

Image © 2007 by Stephen Nash. Sahamalaza Sportive Lemur
Lepilemur sahamalazensis Andriaholinirina et al., 2006
Madagascar
(2006)
Restricted to a single peninsula in northwestern Madagascar, the Sahamalaza sportive lemur is critically dependent on the few remaining fragments of its unique forest habitat.

The Sahamalaza sportive lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis) is one of the numerous lemurs recently described based on genetic and morphometric data (Andriaholinirina et al. 2006). Although the range of this medium-sized, nocturnal primate is not precisely known, it is thought to be strictly limited to the Sahamalaza Peninsula in northwestern Madagascar. The peninsula is part of a transition zone between the Sambirano region in the north and the western dry deciduous forest region in the south. The forests in this area contain a mixture of plant species typical of dry forest and some typical of the Sambirano domain (Birkinshaw 2004). Lepilemur sahamalazensis depends on these semi-humid forests, of which only a few fragments now remain.
Very little is known about the ecology and behavior of the Sahamalaza sportive lemur. During preliminary night observations, individuals were mostly encountered alone or in groups of two. During the daytime, they were found sleeping in tree holes. This suggests that they have a social structure typical for the Lepilemur genus, i.e., pair-living animals defending exclusive territories. Encounter rate is high in the forest of Ankarafa (Olivieri et al. 2005). This could be due to recent loss of habitat, forcing all animals to concentrate in the few remaining forest fragments.
Total numbers are unknown but, taking into account the limited distribution of L. sahamalazensis and the small extent of remaining forest cover, they are probably in their low thousands. The species is present in the recently established Parc National de Sahamalaza – Iles Radama (Aire Protégée Terrestre, Marine et Côtière) which is part of the Malagasy protected area network managed through the Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées (ANGAP). The Sahamalaza Peninsula is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (declared in 2001). Although the protected area probably covers the entire distribution of L. sahamalazensis, forest-clearing for agriculture, and timber-cutting for charcoal and construction continue at an alarming rate.
Additionally, as is true for all sportive lemurs, it suffers from a high hunting pressure. These animals are easy and defenceless prey for hunters that find their sleeping sites during the day and cut the tree down or climb it to fetch them. Furthermore, traps are laid, harming not only L. sahamalazensis but also the Critically Endangered blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur macaco flavifrons), which has a similar distribution.
The combination of a very limited range containing only little and rapidly decreasing suitable habitat with a high hunting pressure makes this species especially vulnerable. A consortium of the Association Européenne pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Lémuriens (AEECL), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), ANGAP, and the local communities is currently establishing structures to ensure better protection of the few remaining forest fragments in the park (Schwitzer et al. 2006). Simultaneously, studies are under way to determine the exact distribution of L. sahamalazensis as well as the density and size of the remaining population.

Gillian L. Olivieri, Christoph Schwitzer, Nora Schwitzer, Mathias Craul & Guy H. Randriatahina

References
Andriaholinirina, N., J.-L. Fausser, C. Roos., D. Zinner, U. Thalmann, C. Rabarivola, I. Ravoarimanana, J. U. Ganzhorn, B. Meier, R. Hilgartner, L. Walter., A. Zaramody, C. Langer, T. Hahn, E. Zimmermann, E., U. Radespiel, M. Craul, J. Tomiuk, I. Tattersall and Y. Rumpler. 2006. Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates). BMC Evol. Biol. 6, 17.
Birkinshaw, C. R. 2004. Priority Areas for Plant Conservation. Ravintsara 2(1):14–15.
Lernould, J.-M. 2006. AEECL zoos involved in the discovery of four new lemur species. EAZA News (55): 14–15.
MAB. 2001. Biosphere Reserve Information, Madagascar: Sahamalaza – Iles Radama. [Online]. Retrieved on 11 December 2006 from http://www2.unesco.org/mab/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=MAG+02&mode=all.
Olivieri, G. L., M. Craul and U. Radespiel. 2005. Inventaire des lémuriens dans 15 fragments de forêt de la province de Mahajanga. Lemur News 10: 11–16.
Rabarivola, C., A. Zaramody, J.-L. Fausser, N. Andriaholinirina, C. Roos, D. Zinner, M. Hauwy and Y. Rumpler Y. 2006. Cytogenetic and molecular characteristics of a new species of sportive lemur from northern Madagascar. Lemur News 11, 45–49.
Schwitzer, C., N. Schwitzer, G. H. Randriatahina, C. Rabarivola and W. Kaumanns. 2006. "Programme Sahamalaza": New perspectives for the in situ and ex situ study and conservation of the blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur macaco flavifrons) in a fragmented habitat. In Proceedings of the German-Malagasy Research Cooperation in Life and Earth Sciences, C. Schwitzer, S. Brandt, O. Ramilijaona, M. Rakotomalala Razanahoera, D. Ackermand, T. Razakamanana & J. U. Ganzhorn (eds.), pp.135–149. Concept Verlag, Berlin.

Suggested citation:
Olivieri, G. L., Schwitzer, C., Schwitzer, N., Craul, M. & Randriatahina, G. H. 2007. Sahamazala Sportive Lemur, Lepilemur sahamalazensis. In: Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2006–2008, R. A. Mittermeier et al. (compilers), pp.6-7. Unpublished report, IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI), Arlington, VA.